CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, PLAN OF ACTION FOR WELCOMING HOME THE CHINESE INTERNATIONALS

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A work plan on Chinese Communist Party strategies for engaging the Overseas Chinese in Burma, Indonesia, India, and South Africa, among other regions.

"Chinese Communist Party, Plan of Action for Welcoming Home the Chinese Internationals," September 25, 1954, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, Guangdong Provincial Archives 235-1-115-077-082. Obtained for CWIHP by Hongwei Fan and translated by Max Maller. http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/118252

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After this year’s National Day celebration, all of the Chinese internationals from the sightseeing returners’ group, consisting of Indonesians, Burmese, Indians, Pakistanis, South Africans and others, 130 or 140 in all, who are returning for the festivities, should be invited in the latter third of September for a tour of the major cities, taking in the many sights all throughout our state. The objective for organizing this sightseeing trip is so that after the Chinese internationals return to their abodes, they will then be capable of broadcasting the following topics:

1- Announcing the convening of the People’s Congress and the publication of China’s Constitution, and the great significance of these events the consolidation of democratic institutions. Showing support for the Chinese international representative chosen for the final session of this year’s Conference for the Expansion of Chinese Expatriate Affairs, as a way to expand influence.

2- Announce the determination and willingness of our people to liberate Taiwan. Taiwan is China’s territory: liberating Taiwan is a domestic affairs concern. The meddling of the United States will not be tolerated. The Chinese people must liberate Taiwan and dismantle Chiang Kai-shek’s traitorous clique.

3- Announce China’s great victory in its international struggle and its advocacy for the Five Principles for Peaceful Co-existence, which will be a great helper to reduce international tension and consolidate world peace. Announce that our people and overseas Chinese wish take this exact spirit into increasing their friendly relations with other countries.

4- Announce the great achievement of China’s five-year construction effort.

In order to meet this goal, we should carefully arrange for the deep education of the sightseeing group.

Due to the importance placed by the Central Committee and every level of government on welcoming international Chinese, and its guarantee of matching the welcome from all previous sessions, the Central Committee has realized quite an achievement. When sightseeing group participants returned home in previous years, they all spoke from personal experience to explain the state’s realistic situation to their countrymen abroad. This led to overseas countrymen’s advancement in understanding and fervor for the fatherland, expanding the united front of overseas Chinese patriotism and alienating the Bandit Chiang. Disseminating education to the sightseeing group has been achieved in the past, no doubt. But it had its flaws as well. For instance, in explaining the situation, only the achievements were noted; no one dared to discuss any shortcomings. The sightseeing group was followed to closely; no one dared let them go out on their own. Being fearful lest they spy upon shortcomings is not in keeping with ‘seeking truth from facts’. The great achievements of construction can be discussed well enough, but we must not self-censor against discussing shortcomings and deficiencies. Discussing achievements should not get out of hand. We cannot say that everything went perfectly. We must show some modesty. In discussing shortcomings, we still ‘seek truth from facts.’ There has to be a basic principle. Do not conceal the major successes. Do not discuss issues that have not yet solidified. When the sightseeing group asks what the goal of their touring might be, respond as carefully as you possibly can. Last year, the events were arranged too tightly, the viewing time was hurried, etc. From now on, the welcoming project will be improved and more attentive.

Review this year’s plan for the Comprehensive Regional Sightseeing Itinerary:

1- The comprehensive touring itinerary (including Central South, North, Northeast, and East China regions) will be in all 82 days: 4 days at the LVDA oil field, 3 days in Nanjing, 3 days at Wuxi prefecture, 5 days in Shanghai, 4 days in Hangzhou, 15 days in their hometowns, 7 days all told in Guangzhou, stopping in between in Wuhan for 17 days.

2- Beijing culture, the education industry, city government construction, historical sites and scenic spots; historical sites and scenic spots of Guangzhou, light industry, infrastructure with international Chinese investment; heavy industry construction in Shenyang (including Fushun prefecture), the Sino-Soviet cooperative infrastructure of LVDA, the friendliness of Sino-Soviet relations; state-owned light industry, private and joint public-private operations and city government construction in Shanghai and Tianjin; historical sites and scenic spots of Nanjing; handmade goods industry of Wuxi and historical sites and scenic spots; historical sites and scenic spots of Hangzhou, handmade crafts, religious industry; the construction of infrastructure production in their hometown.

The second major point— Notes for every level on welcoming:

1- Welcoming ceremonies are the responsibility of the functionaries of Chinese international relations offices and communications divisions at every level of government. Industry personnel, cultural/education personnel, and any related returned international Chinese personnel are also invited to make an appearance welcome the guests. Do not hold ceremonies at the train station, nor should welcome banners be waved. Besides the county administration of Beijing and Guangzhou, no county administrators are to give out flowers. The number of welcomers should be between 40 and 50. If they arrive early or late, the welcoming committee is allowed to dwindle in size.

2- Banquets. Every location should hold a discrete banquet with a simple meal. Local governments will foot the bill.

3- Evening party. Every location can select a culturally rich and educational musical program, variety show, local drama, or film program. It is best not to rent out a whole theater. If conditions allow it, an appropriate gala may be organized: there should not be too many events.

4- Touring event. Touring events should not be organized too inflexibly. In order to satisfy the desires of visitors from every kind of work background, you can organize a split-up group touring event, to a medical university for example. Before going on a sightseeing visit, it would be best to send out a pamphlet of reading materials (limited to publicly accessible sources).

5- Information seminars and discussion sessions. In order to better introduce every manner of construction situation to the sightseeing groups, each location may organize various kinds of discussion sessions and information seminars. These events should not be long, nor should there be too many of them.

6- Gifts. Besides gifts from the Central Committee, every location may appropriately give commemorative local specialty goods as gifts.

7- Transportation. Communal activities for the group will utilize limousines, but there must be a guaranteed seat for every person. Aside from special circumstances, individuals will not be granted use of the car. Have a set of small cars prepared for reserve purposes.

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A work plan on Chinese Communist Party strategies for engaging the Overseas Chinese in Burma, Indonesia, India, and South Africa, among other regions.

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